Course Summary

The course will focus on recent developments in the field of international law, and guide students through the central debates within the discipline. It begins with the philosophy of law, seeking to help students understand the origin of laws, and enter a legal mindset.. It then covers the main theories of international law, drawing from realism to liberal institutionalism and constructivism.

This course will offer a thorough grounding in the principles of Law across key topics, and how the systems of Law that we have are justified from a philosophical standpoint. Additionally, it offers valuable training in debating and discussing complex and often controversial topics in a respectful way; a skill that is valuable not only at university but also in the workplace. Law requires clear and precise communication, and a key aim of this course is to train all students in communicating in this way.

The Oxford Royale Academy experience for adults

Where could the International Law in the 21st Century course lead you?

Why choose the International Law course for 19-25 years?

This two-week course is aimed at 19 to 25 year-old students who are keen to learn the fundamentals of International Law in the 21st century. Prior legal training is not required, as all the necessary concepts will be covered in this intensive course. To that end, students will be taught public and private law from both a domestic and an international perspective, aiming to provide them with solid foundations in the international law discipline.

A comparative law perspective applied in this course enables students to gain a better understanding of legal systems all over the globe. The course covers Human Rights and explores the role played by international institutions in an interconnected world. It also studies international dispute settlement, highlighting some of the most famous cases of disputes between countries, or between states and non-state actors. By discussing international commercial arbitration, we explore in this course the ways in which international agreements and arbitration awards are enforced globally through hard law and soft law.

How will the International Law course help me?

This course is aimed at gap year students and current undergraduates who wish to expand their understanding of Law with like-minded peers from all over the world. It’s particularly suitable for students interested in topics adjacent to Law; for instance, for students of Politics, International Relations or History, or those who are interested in working in law enforcement, local government or the Civil Service. You might also be a current undergraduate who is considering a Law conversion course upon graduation, in which case this introduction to Law at a higher level than you might previously have encountered is sure to be invaluable. However, you might also choose to take this course if you studied Law at school and would like to refresh your memory and build on that knowledge, or even if you are studying a completely unrelated subject and simply find the world of Law fascinating – as so many people do.

Is this course for me?

If you are as passionate about law justice, this is a course for you.

Topics covered

The table below gives an indication of the subject areas that will be covered in each day’s lecture and seminar. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, please note that topics and timings may be subject to change. Regarding topics, our teachers retain the flexibility to adapt to the academic interests of the students in the class, in order for the members of the class to benefit from their broad spectrum of knowledge and experience in the field.

Day-by-Day Schedule

Week | Day

Lesson Content

Week One | Monday

- Justice – The Morality of Law
- Case: Would you Ever Kill an Innocent Person?

Week One | Tuesday

- Theory of International Law
- What Kind of World Do We (Want To) Live In?
- Plan Group Projects

What will you get out of the International Law in the 21st Century course?

This is a student-centred course, in which a very practical approach is taken, and participants are intellectually challenged from day one. Every one-hour lecture is followed by a related two-hour seminar, during which students participate actively in debates, ask questions and apply knowledge acquired during the course. In these interactive seminars, a wide variety of legal cases is discussed, on which students are expected to think independently and offer creative solutions.

During the two weeks, students will be exposed to plenty of opportunities to apply the acquired knowledge to the UN model debates, moot trials and a study visit organised in the court of international arbitration in London. Their progress will be assessed through a written examination, and a group project presentation, on which supervised guidance will be provided throughout the course.

Welcome to the City of Oxford - your home this summer

Oxford is a city like no other, combining startlingly beautiful architecture with a buzzing, modern city centre, with superb shopping, restaurants, cafés and more. With the colleges of Oxford University at its heart, some almost 800 years old, it is a city steeped in history and academia.

Students on Oxford Royale's Oxford summer courses will have the chance to live, dine and study in this stunning city, exploring all of its major sites and discovering its hidden secrets. Through both organised trips to key landmarks and free time in the evenings, students will become acquainted with all that Oxford has to offer.

As students walk the cobbled streets and gaze up at the spires, gargoyles and honey-coloured stone buildings, they will be walking in the footsteps of some of the most influential figures in history, including prime ministers, presidents, nobel prize-winning scientists, authors and more.

Sample Timetable

Useful information for students

Accommodation

Students will be accommodated in comfortable single rooms in either Merton or University College, depending on the course chosen - please contact our registrations team if you would like more information. Accommodation is the standard accommodation for university undergraduates who study at the university, so students are able to get a flavour for what being an undergraduate at the university might be like.Bathrooms are typically shared between students of the same gender, though in some cases en-suite facilities are available.

Programme Staff

The programme is overseen by the Programme Director, who implements the day-to-day running of the programme. The Director is assisted by a team of Counsellors who very often are current members of the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge and are able to provide an insight into life at these prestigious institutions.

Eligibility & pre-requisites

Students on this course:

Must conform to our age policy.

Must be fluent or near-fluent English language speakers – if you are unsure whether your English level is suitable for this programme, please contact our Registrations Team on admin@oxford-royale.co.uk and they will be able to assist you.

Must be able to fulfil the basic requirements of the programme, in terms of attendance at lessons, meals and events. Please contact our Registrations Team for more detailed information.

Oxford Royale Academy is a part of Oxford Programs Limited, UK company number 6045196. The company contracts with institutions including Oxford University for the use of their facilities and also contracts with tutors from those institutions but does not operate under the aegis of Oxford University.